Tourney attendance rises

Bryce Alderton

Toshiba Senior Classic officials estimate galleries for the three-day

tournament totaled 80,000, an increase in 20,000 from a year ago.

Sunday’s crowd totaled about 26,000, the most of any day.

Jack Nicklaus, making his first tournament appearance, drew the

most spectators of any group.

Newport Beach Country Club head pro Paul Hahn, playing in his

first professional tournament after receiving a sponsor’s exemption,

also had a sizable gallery following all three days.

About 1,800 fans encircled the 18th green Sunday to watch Nicklaus

walk up the fairway Sunday.

Nicklaus shot a 2-under 69 Sunday -- his best round of the

tournament -- and finished tied for 36th place at 3-under (210).

“The people here were terrific and I enjoyed it even though my

golf was not that great,” said the 64-year-old Nicklaus. “I hit the

ball a lot better [Sunday]. I just couldn’t get the ball in the hole

today.”

When asked if he accomplished what he set out to do this week,

Nicklaus responded, “I set out to win, so I guess I didn’t do a good

job of that.”

Nicklaus said he most likely will play in the Masters next month.

There was speculation earlier in the week that the six-time Masters

champion would forego the tournament.

* For the fifth consecutive year, the event surpassed $1 million

in net proceeds to charity.

Tournament proceeds have exceeded $6.7 million in cash donations

in the seven years since Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach became the

tournament organizer and lead charity.

The six-year charitable contribution, which includes in-kind

donations, has exceeded $8 million.

“We had terrific crowds, beautiful weather and a championship that

was second to none,” said Mark Simons, general manager of Toshiba

Digital Products Division, the Irvine-based company that has served

as the tournament’s title sponsor since the inaugural event in 1995.

The $1 million check represents a minimum contribution from the

tournament. Final proceeds will be announced in about six weeks.

* John Jacobs, who finished in third place at 13-under (200),

always enjoys coming to Newport Beach.

“This is as good as it gets for the players,” Jacobs said. “You

fall out of your hotel and you’re on the golf course. This is a

wonderful venue.”

* Jim Ahern was disqualified following Saturday’s round after

signing an incorrect scorecard.

* The stroke average for the third round was 69.727 compared to

70.625 on the final day last year. For the week, the field averaged

70.099, a drop from 70.311 a year ago.

* Keith Fergus recorded his first top-five finish in his third

start on the Champions Tour. Fergus shot a final-round 69 to finish

fourth at 12-under (201).

* Dale Douglass (68) bettered his age for the second time in his

career with a 5-under 66 Sunday.

* With his 11-under-par 60 in the opening round, Tom Purtzer

matched the lowest start ever by a Champions Tour winner.

Purtzer earned 240 points for his victory and now has 488 points,

good for second place in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup

standings, made to recognize the player of the year. Gil Morgan leads

the season-long competition after seven events with 495 points.

There were 43 rounds below 70 on Sunday compared to 35 and 28 in

the first and second rounds, respectively.